OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME :
FCH promotes, coordinates and implements technical cooperation activities at the country level, emphasizing the central role of family and community to foster a culture of health promotion and protection in which health becomes a social value. It focuses on the development and implementation of maternal, perinatal and sexual reproductive health and nutrition programs including HIV/AIDS-STI. FCH supports the country, in collaboration with national and international partners, in identifying, developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based approaches, which are mutually reinforcing and cover the whole spectrum of the life course from critical maternal and child survival actions to healthy growth and development into adulthood. The area provides technical cooperation/guidance in the design and development of research activities, policy, inter-sectoral programs and projects for family health in a primary health care context, and taking into consideration prevailing health situations, as well as socio-economic conditions. |
Description of duties:
Under the direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Representative and the technical guidance of the Manager, Family and Community Health (FCH), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:
a) Support national authorities in the development of strategic actions to improve health of the family (women, maternal, perinatal, infant, child and adolescent, adults and the elderly), and its access to health care taking into consideration the multi-ethnic diversity and inequities in health of the country; and other family and community health priorities, such as HIV/AIDS;
b) Advise in the preparation and revision of national and local level plans of actions; provide technical assistance to promote integrated child, adolescent, mother (maternal health and mortality reduction) and women's health strategies and activities within national programs and with intercultural adaptation of the care services; advise Ministries of Health, public, private and university sector organizations to introduce and strengthen child, adolescent and women's policies for preventive care in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's);
c) Collaborate in the design, implementation and evaluation of integrated health care models based on Primary Health Care (PHC) strategies, prevention and promotion of health, development of evidence-based inter-sectoral policies and plans, especially related to maternal and child health, sexual-reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS;
d) Develop health policies, action plans and projects that promote healthy lifestyles and the prevention of risks for family health during the life course (including adults and the elderly), and strengthen the gender approach.
e) Work in collaboration with UN Agencies, partners community, NGO's, civil society, universities, other international organizations and private sector to mobilize resources (financial and non-financial);
f) Coordinate and support the implementation of activities promoted by related PAHO specialized centers, mainly the Latin American Center for Perinatology, Woman and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR), and strengthen training in the areas of perinatology, reproductive health, maternal and child health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS;
g) Promote and undertake key actions that favor the implementation of community family health policies, including HIV/AIDS, taking into consideration existing legislation;
h) Provide technical cooperation for the planning, supervision, follow-up, and evaluation of integrated health interventions, with special emphasis on the prevention and care of prevailing diseases (including HIV/AIDS) of mothers, newborns, children, adolescents, women, adults and the elderly; developing inter-sectoral actions and stimulating institutional and community alliances;
i) Cooperate with the Country Office Staff in: supporting and developing health policies, action plans and projects; increasing equitable access to health care; identifying inequities in care and causes of exclusion in health for best options to expand social protection in health;
j) Promote and support research that will contribute to the achievement of the objectives and goals of the Family and Community Health;
k) Advise the health sector in measuring social and health inequalities and implementing public interventions to close the gaps, in monitoring and evaluating public health programs; and in designing the evidence-based decision making processes;
l) Collaborate with the Country Office in the preparation of biennial programs and budgets, semiannual workplans and periodic evaluations for assigned projects;
m) When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities.
n) Perform other tasks and activities as assigned.
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| REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS |
Education:
Essential: A university degree in a health science with postgraduate degree at the master's level, from a recognized university, in public health, family health, community health, epidemiology or a related field.
Desirable: Specialization in child and maternal health would be an asset.
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Skills:
Key Behavioral Competencies:
Intra-institutional Action: Leads team efforts toward full understanding of the policies the organization must operate within as well as the Standard of Conduct for the International Civil Service. Leads employees and co-workers toward operating in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
Information Management: Processes and analyzes the data objectively, presenting it clearly and equitably. Leads the effort to acquire relevant and selected information that facilitates the achievement of organizational results. Evaluates/leads the evaluation of information systems on the basis of its advantages/disadvantages for processing information relevant to the area of work.
Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting: After analyzing situations on the basis of the available evidence and knowledge, leads one's area of responsibility toward individual and collective actions. Encourages the importance of continual analysis. Verifies and promotes that action is taken in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Leads others in decisions needed to implement required actions. Is capable of anticipating the implications of analyzed situations between one and two years ahead.
Teamwork: Embraces and leads consensual decision-making, that is, leading the fulfillment of team decisions, even when they may not fully coincide with one's own opinions or proposals. Knows how to manage difficult team situations and promotes consensus building. Takes responsibility for the team's successes and failures.
Knowledge Management: Supports and develops networked and community working. Identifies, develops and nurtures networks and communities. Identifies and builds on working networks that enable knowledge and information flow. Designs and implements knowledge and information services. Enables utilization of knowledge and information sources. Delivers relevant knowledge and information in most appropriate form. Participates in and learns from networked and community approaches.
Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions: Selects priority ideas for executing the interventions after anticipating their potential problems and solutions. Participates in the preparation of strategic plans, providing input about their impact, quality, critical points, and risks.
Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions: Evaluates criteria for the interventions at the process, management, and outcome level, in addition to technical cooperation evaluation plans, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction.
Resource mobilization: Works in an objective manner to obtain and apportion resources (financial and non-financial) according to need. Supports and advises technical areas to enable best use of resources are aligned with the mission and vision of the Organization. Is able to work in a multicultural environment. Is flexible and has the ability to work well under pressure. Is able to give feedback to partners within and outside the organization about the use of the resources and the results acquired.
Technical Expertise:
- Expert knowledge of family health programs and the organization of country health systems with focus on primary health care.
- Familiarity with the clinical and essential public health interventions to support the healthy growth and development of all members of a family.
- Technical expertise in formulating and developing tools for monitoring and evaluating family health strategies.
- Familiarity with the intercultural aspects of family health.
- Demonstrated managerial skills, strategic thinking, and technical knowledge with communication and knowledge management skills.
- Skills and experiences in interinstitutional and intersectorial actions and collaboration.
- Expertise in strategic thinking, planning of human resources for health, information and information systems, political and stakeholder analysis, communication, negotiation methods, leadership development, health system performance.
- Strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization.
IT Skills
Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio, Microsoft SharePoint and Project would be an asset.
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Experience:
Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in managing inter-sectoral health or social projects and programs in the area of family health, including sexual and reproductive health. Of these, at least five years should include development of policies, ability to negotiate and coordinate with all relevant sectors of government, the private sector, international agencies and organized community groups. |
Languages:
Very good knowledge of Spanish or English with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset. |
Additional Information:
PAHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, assignment grant, rental subsidy, and home leave. ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POST. CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY IF THEY ARE UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. A WRITTEN TEST AND/OR INTERVIEW WILL BE HELD FOR THIS POST. THE POST DESCRIPTION IS THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES. |
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US$ 67,395.00 at single rate
US$ 72,373.00 with primary dependants | Post Adjustment: 47.4 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation. |
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| Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures. |
| All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. |
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